Something that is unproductive does not produce any good results.
They are are well aware that much of their time and effort is unproductive.
...increasingly unproductive land.
Synonyms: useless, futile, fruitless, vain More Synonyms of unproductive
More Synonyms of unproductive
unproductive in British English
(ˌʌnprəˈdʌktɪv)
adjective
1. (often foll by of)
not productive of (anything)
2.
not producing goods and services with exchange value
Derived forms
unproductively (ˌunproˈductively)
adverb
unproductiveness (ˌunproˈductiveness) or unproductivity (unˌproducˈtivity)
noun
Examples of 'unproductive' in a sentence
unproductive
Their land was unproductive because their goal was to farm areas that were waste or common.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
Many knowledge workers know all about these unproductive and unnecessary time demands; yet they are afraid to prune them.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
For example, requesting all comments and questions are addressed to you ensures effective use of group time and avoids unproductive arguments between trainees.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
In other languages
unproductive
British English: unproductive ADJECTIVE
Something that is unproductive does not produce any good results.
Research workers are well aware that much of their time and effort is unproductive.
American English: unproductive
Brazilian Portuguese: improdutivo
Chinese: 没有效果的
European Spanish: improductivo
French: improductif
German: unproduktiv
Italian: improduttivo
Japanese: 非生産的な
Korean: 비생산적인
European Portuguese: improdutivo
Latin American Spanish: improductivo
1 (adjective)
Definition
not producing any worthwhile results
They are aware much of their time and effort is unproductive.
Synonyms
useless
He realised that their money was useless in this country.
futile
a futile attempt to ward off the blow
fruitless
It was a fruitless search.
vain
They worked all night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule.
idle
It would be idle to pretend the system is worthless.
ineffective
Reform will continue to be painful and ineffective.
worthless
Training is worthless unless there is proof that it works.
unprofitable
an endless, unprofitable argument
unrewarding
valueless
I felt my existence was totally valueless.
unavailing
a brave but unavailing fight against a terminal illness
otiose
bootless
unremunerative
inefficacious
Opposites
effective
,
useful
,
rewarding
,
profitable
,
worthwhile
,
fruitful
,
remunerative
2 (adjective)
increasingly unproductive land
Synonyms
barren
He also wants to use water to irrigate barren desert land.
sterile
a sterile male
infertile
The waste is dumped, making the surrounding land infertile.
dry
fruitless
unprolific
Opposites
productive
,
fertile
,
fruitful
,
prolific
,
abundant
Seeuseless
Nearby words of
unproductive
unprepossessing
unpretentious
unprincipled
unproductive
unprofessional
unprofitable
unpromising
Synonyms of 'unproductive'
unproductive
Explore 'unproductive' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of idle
Definition
ineffective or useless
It would be idle to pretend the system is worthless.
Synonyms
useless,
vain,
pointless,
hopeless,
unsuccessful,
ineffective,
worthless,
futile,
fruitless,
unproductive,
abortive,
ineffectual,
groundless,
of no use,
valueless,
disadvantageous,
unavailing,
otiose,
of no avail,
profitless,
bootless
in the sense of ineffective
Definition
having no effect or an inadequate effect
Reform will continue to be painful and ineffective.
Synonyms
unproductive,
useless,
futile,
vain,
unsuccessful,
pointless,
fruitless,
to no avail,
ineffectual,
unprofitable,
to no effect,
unavailing,
unfruitful,
profitless,
bootless,
inefficacious
in the sense of infertile
Definition
(of soil) not productive
The waste is dumped, making the surrounding land infertile.
Synonyms
barren,
unproductive,
nonproductive,
unfruitful,
infecund
in the sense of sterile
Definition
(of plants) not producing or bearing seeds
a sterile male
Synonyms
barren (archaic),
infertile,
unproductive,
infecund
in the sense of unavailing
Definition
useless or futile
a brave but unavailing fight against a terminal illness
Synonyms
useless,
unsuccessful,
ineffective,
futile,
vain,
idle,
pointless,
fruitless,
unproductive,
abortive,
ineffectual,
to no purpose,
of no avail,
bootless
in the sense of unprofitable
Definition
not producing any worthwhile results
an endless, unprofitable argument
Synonyms
fruitless,
useless,
pointless,
futile,
vain,
unproductive,
unavailing,
unfruitful,
profitless,
bootless
in the sense of vain
Definition
senseless or unsuccessful
They worked all night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule.
Synonyms
futile,
useless,
pointless,
unsuccessful,
empty,
hollow,
idle,
trivial,
worthless,
trifling,
senseless,
unimportant,
fruitless,
unproductive,
abortive,
unprofitable,
time-wasting,
unavailing,
nugatory
in the sense of valueless
I felt my existence was totally valueless.
Synonyms
pointless,
worthless,
futile,
miserable,
useless,
in vain,
ineffective,
senseless,
fruitless,
to no avail,
purposeless,
of no earthly use
in the sense of worthless
Definition
without value or usefulness
Training is worthless unless there is proof that it works.